Jet fuel shortage forces over 1,200 flight cuts as airlines add surcharges

Disruption overview

Airlines worldwide are cutting flights and adding extra charges after a sharp jet fuel shortage followed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Confirmed reductions already total at least 1,200 services from 16 April 2026, including 160 KLM intra-European flights, 1,000 SAS flights in April, and further cuts by Asiana Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Norse Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, HK Express, and Lufthansa. If you're affected you do have rights. Airlines should provide rerouting or refunds, and care such as food, drinks, and accommodation when your journey is heavily delayed or canceled. Compensation may apply on a case by case basis.

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Disruption details

A severe jet fuel shortage has forced airlines including KLM, SAS, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, HK Express, Vietnam Airlines, Norse Atlantic, and Lufthansa to cut flights from 16 April 2026, with at least 1,200 services affected worldwide. For passengers, that means canceled journeys, fewer route options, and rising travel costs as schedules keep changing. More schedule changes and price increases are possible if fuel supplies don't stabilize.

The shortage was triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the widening US-Israeli conflict with Iran. In just a few weeks, the price of aviation kerosene jumped from about US$85-90 a barrel to as much as US$150-200. With fuel making up roughly a quarter of an airline's operating costs, carriers have moved quickly to protect their networks.

Some of the clearest disruption so far has centered on Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, London Gatwick Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport, but the impact is much broader than those hubs. Airlines in Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and Africa are all adjusting schedules, parking aircraft, or scaling back growth plans.

Confirmed cuts already include:

• KLM said on 16 April 2026 it will cancel 160 intra-European services over the next month.

• SAS has cut 1,000 flights in April after removing a couple of hundred more in March.

• Asiana Airlines will drop 22 flights between April and July, and Vietnam Airlines plans to cancel 23 domestic flights every week from this month.

• Norse Atlantic has withdrawn its London Gatwick–Los Angeles route, while Cathay Pacific is cutting about 2% of its May-to-June passenger program and HK Express is cutting 6%.

• Lufthansa will ground 27 short-haul aircraft and retire 4 long-haul A340-600s earlier than planned.

Other airlines are trying to avoid deeper schedule cuts by passing costs to travelers instead. Air France-KLM is adding €50 to long-haul round trips, SunExpress will add €10 to Turkey-Europe tickets from 1 May 2026, and carriers including Virgin Atlantic, Thai Airways, IndiGo, Greater Bay, and several Chinese airlines have revised their fuel charges.

In the US, Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and United have also raised checked-baggage fees. That won't help passengers whose flights are still operating but who now face a more expensive trip because of the same fuel pressure.

The strain is spreading beyond individual route changes. In Nigeria, 12 mostly domestic airlines warned they could ground all operations from 20 April 2026 before pausing the shutdown after government mediation, with another meeting set for 22 April 2026.

If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, the pressure could get much worse. Industry leaders have warned that European jet fuel stocks could be exhausted within 6 weeks, which would push airlines toward much wider cancellations.

Because this disruption stems from an external fuel shock linked to armed conflict, compensation under EC 261 isn't clear.

Eric Napoli, CLO at AirHelp comments, "While airlines are citing fuel shortages as a reason for upcoming cancellations, it is important for travelers to know that this does not automatically waive their rights under EC 261. At AirHelp, we look at whether these disruptions were truly unavoidable or if they fall under the airline’s operational responsibility; if the latter, compensation may still be due. Regardless of the specific cause, the 'duty of care' remains a mandatory requirement, meaning airlines must continue to provide passengers with necessary support, including rebooking, meals, and hotel stays during these delays."

Regardless of compensation, passengers should know they're still entitled to support during flight disruptions. If your journey is canceled, your airline should offer rerouting or a refund. During long delays, it should also provide food and drinks, and if you're stranded overnight, accommodation and transportation to it.

Keep an eye on updates from your airline, and ask about rebooking, refunds, and care as soon as your plans change.

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